Martin Lawrence Gallery will welcome internationally acclaimed French artist François Fressinier to La Jolla with an intimate reception and unveiling of Fressinier's mixed-media paintings and newly released limited-edition serigraphs on Friday, Feb. 22.

Born in Cognac, France, Fressinier was influenced by his father's admiration for the works of the Old Masters and his exposure to some of the world's most historic places. This, along with his proximity to France's Gallo-Roman ruins and Gothic churches inclined Fressinier to explore and create figurative, symbolic artwork and poetry. In addition, his education at the Ecole Brassart in Tours afforded him the opportunity to study the drawings and paintings of old and new masters.

His inspiration, he has said, has come from artists like Rembrandt for showing us the soul of his sitters, Van Dyke for his elegance, Bonnard's palette and Fuchs for the fantastic world he invented.

Fressinier will be at the gallery, located at 1111 Prospect St., from 6 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 22. To RSVP, call (858) 551-1122.